Hair-restraining appliance



Sept. 9, 1952 M. D. NEFF HAIR RESTRAINiNG APPLIANCE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1951 Sept. 9, 1952 l NEFF 2,609,824

HAIR RESTRAINING APPLIANCE Filed June 4, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 9, 1952 ,M. D. NEFF 2,609,824

HAIR RESTRAINING APPLIANCE Filed June 4, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZNI ENTOJQ Mayarez Z2 N216" Patented Sept. 9, 1952 niiImREsTRAmmeAremANoE ="Margaret D.-N-eff, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application lunekl, BEL-Serial No.229i837 4' Claims. '1

".This invention" relates to'a personal appliance for restraining womenls hair.

There have beendeveloped in the course of years mniierous styles'of' hairfiressingfor women involving-stylesof cutting, curling and arrangement. "Many,'if not. most current styles minimize the use of "oldfashioned hairj pin and other meansffouholding" 'the'hair in atight arrangement. On the contrary most of"'thelstyles 'depend on'th'e preparatory work of cutting or cutting and icurling'the hair, which then if undisturbedlfalls naturally into 'itsinten'ded shaped arrangement. 'Inthe wind, when'ridinglin an open conveyance as an automobile; boat or bicycle or "during athletic games the hair I usually is disturbed so much that it .doesnot "oflitself return to its original arrangement.

' For the foregoing reasons it is.usefiil to employ a hair-restraining appliance'fof'openstruc ture-which will engage the headofthe wearer and confine the-hair in sever-a1 regions ,of the coiffureto h'old the hairinits original arrangemerit. "There are-however, severalifactors which rerideritdifficiilt to provide-a'hair-restraining appliance ofgenerally useful sort. "If too definite in its form a hair-restraining ap'pliance'isinapplicable to differenthea'd sizes and "shapes and to differently shaped hair arrangements. "If loosely. r limply constructed .a hair-restraining appliance isincapableof performing its intended function because its restrainin effect lacks positiveness. 'An open hair-restraining appliance made of rubber or rubber likematerialby'its very elasticity tends toIdistort'the-hair arrangement andmaycause discomfort because ofelasticpr'essureandinterference with circulation.

It also is a matter of importa'nce'that a hairrestraining appliance ,purp'osed for general and public use'be'o'f pleasing appearance and in order that'it so be itiis necessary"thatthefuridamental mechanical structure ofltheappliance'bersuch as to adaptitself eitherto a pleasingly-simple or desirably ornamental effect.

It is the primary object of myinventio'n'toprovide a hair-restraining applianceof open structure which is adjustable in ia .plurality of .dimensions, so that it is adaptable tovarious head sizes and shapesand to various arrangements of the hair .t'oprovide eificiency'in use and comfort to the wearer.

"Anotherpbject of "my invention is to .p'rovlde an open hair-restraining appliance "the fundamental "mechanicalstructure of which is "of a finishedand pleasing appearance.

kfurther' object of" my invention is to provide an Iopen hair-restraining appliance which comrisesmean's for attaching the appliance positivel'y' to the head of "a wearer.

Because of its adjustability the 'o'penhair-restrainingappiiaiice' or my invention "can be made chiefly or wholly of inelastic or relativelyin elastic material, which is not'elongated by application to the head of a wearer to bind "the appliance to the head by its tendencyltocontract inlength.

Inthe accompanying. drawings illustrativebf one embodiment 6f my invention:

1 Fig? lis a from elevation of 'myhair-restrainin appliance approirimately in thepositidnm which it is' lield'before being. placed on'the'liead 0f the wearer.

Figfill is a fragmentary detail "elevati'onpf 'a portion of the brow or"foundation' band of the appliance showing particularly the engagement of the head bands of the appliance with the brow or foundation band" thereof.

Fig.' III is an elevational view illustrating in a general waythe'use of 'myhair-restraining appliance by showing onepossible position of the applianceon the head of the wearer.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary elevational View show ing one ineansfor attaching my hair-restraining appliance positivelyto the head ofawearer.

Fig. V is a detail rear elevati'onal view of the positive attaching means of Fig. IVShOWl'lhQ s'uch attachingmea'ns on an enlarged scale.

FigQVI is a side elevational View or the attaching means shown in'Fig. V.

'Fig. VII is afragm'entary elevational v'i'evfsirnilar to' Fig. IV but showing a modificationinthe meansfor attaching the hair--restraining appliance to the head of a wearer.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary elevational view showing attaching means which are usablealt'ernativelyor additionally'to'the means shownin FigsIIVto VII inclusive for positive attachment of the appliance'to the head of a wearer.

Fig'IX is a detail view showin the attaching means of Fig; VIII in side elevation.

FigKX'is a side elevational View showihgthe hair-restraining appliance positively attached'to thehead of a wearer.

Fig. XI is a view illustrating a modification in one of the bands of which'the hair-restrainin; appliance is composed.

Referring particularly to Fig. I of thedrawings, the brow, or foundation, band of the appliance is designated by reference numeral I, \vithi the upper region thereof which extends over and e forwardly of thehead specifically designatedby reference numeral lb. Rearwardly or downwardly of region lb of the brow, or foundation, band there are in ascending order neck band 3 and one or more head bands, two such bands A and being shown.

As explained above both the brow, or foundation, band I and the neck and head bands which cross between regions of the brow or foundation band are composed of some suitable flexible material and as explained the relation of such bands gives a maximum of adjustability in the appliance.

Along both reaches of the brow, or foundation, band i rearwardly and below the region lb of that band there are a plurality of sockets 2 which, as shown particularly in Fig. 11 of the drawings, may be in the form of sewed loops. These sockets or loops 2 are in number suficient to accommodate additional bands if so desired or to provide adjusted position of head bands 4 and 5 along brow or foundation band I. Desirably these sockets or loops 2 are arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the brow or foundation band if the latter is stretched out straight so that the head bands assume a primarily accommodated position when the appliance is placed on the head of the wearer. These head bands 4 and 5 may be made adjustable in their effective length at either or both their ends, adjustment at one end of each of the bands being shown. The illustrated means for effecting the adjustment are a plurality of cooperative engaging means placed on the inner side of a looped region id of head band 4 and similarly placed on a looped region 5a of head band 5, such cooperative engaging means being shown as glove-type snap fasteners 6 and l cooperating with the matching portions of the fasteners placed in line on the inner or under side of the main reach of the band. At the other end of head band 5 a loop 5b passes through a socket loop 2 of the brow or foundation band and is engaged by a similar glove-type snap fastener 1a, the cooperative parts of but one snap fastener being shown. The other end of head band 4 can be engaged with the brow, or foundation, band by passing its looped region @121 through a socket loop in the foundation band and securing it by a glove-type snap fastener 6a, or can be attached in the manner hereinafter described. By the above arrangement head bands and 5 can be adjusted in different socket loops along the length of the brow or foundation band by disengaging them at both ends thereof and they are adjustable in length by regulating the length of their looped regions 4a and 5a to shorten or lengthen each band.

Neck band 3 engages with a sewed socket loop 9 at one end of brow or foundation band i and is similarly provided with a looped region 3a adjustable in its effective length by cooperative fastening means shown as glove-type snap fasteners in on the under side of the main reach of neck band 3 and on looped region 3a of the neck band. At its other end neck band II is secured to the other end of brow or foundation band I, such engagement, as shown, being made by passing looped region la of the brow or foundation band i through a loop of the neck band sewed to provide a permanent loop H. Brow or foundation band i is itself adjustable in its efiective length by means of its looped region ia which is provided with cooperative fastening means with respect to the underlying reach of the band, such fastening means being shown as glove-type snap fasteners l2 and it may be explained that for simplicity of construction the head band 4 can be engaged by passing foundation band loop la through the loop 4b of the head band.

As an element which may be used or omitted as seems desirable, a chin band [3 is engageable at the ends of foundation band I. This chin band is shown as readily detachable at both ends, as by having a hook and eye engagement M at the terminal loop -9 at one end of the foundation band and as by means of a glovetype snap fastener I 5 placed on the loop H formed at the remote end of neck band 3.

In use of the appliance each wearer can readily determine the shape and dimensions of the appliance which gives the best results and greatest comfort with respect to the size and shape of her head and the thickness and arrangement of her hair. This adjustment can be made by adjusting the length of the brow or foundation band, by adjusting the length of the neck band and by adjusting the length of the head band or bands and their position with respect to the arched extent of the foundation band. Because of such adjustability it is possible for my hair-restraining appliance closely and effectively to engage the hair without the exertion of such elastic pressure as to cause undue tightness in the engagement of the hairrestraining appliance with the head of the wearer or disturb the coiffure. I It may be made of any flexible material which adapts itself'to the general taste of prospective wearers.

To increase the comfort of the person wearing the hair-restraining appliance and/or to contribute to the ornamental appearance of the appliance, I provide additionally mechanical means for securing my hair-restraining appliance positively to the head of a wearer. Preferred means for effecting this purpose, in one specific embodiment thereof, is shown in Figs. IV to VI inclusive of the drawings. As therein shown such mechanical attaching means consists of an earringlike fitting it which is connected with one of the bands (typically the foundation band) of the open structure of the appliance and which engages the ear lobe of the wearer in some convenient manner. As shown, the ear fitting It has in its rearward, or inner structure a stirrup I? formed to provide a socket 18 through which the bandmay be passed and by means of which the fitting may be adjusted along the band. Along the edge of the earring structure there is a hinged clasp l9 which clamps the ear lobe of a wearer. Clearly any other form of ear clamp of well known sort, such as a screw clamp or the like may be substituted.

In Fig. VII there is shown an adaptation of the same fundamental device in which the base of the earring-like fitting has mounted thereon an ear muff 20, which car muff may be made of fur, velvet, satin or other suitable material and which if desired may be in any desired ornamental form.

Other means for attaching the hair-restraining appliance positively to the head of a wearer may be provided alternatively or additionally to earring-like fittings for one or both of the ears. Such means consists of one or more hair-engaging clasps or hairpins attached to one or more of the bands of which the hair-restraining appliance is composed. As shown, such hair-em gaging means is a bobby pin 2! one leg of which is integrated with the band as by sewing and the other leg of which clasps a small tress of hair. It is to be understood that if desired the chin band l3 may be included additionally to either or both means for positively engaging the hairrestraining appliance to the head of the wearer. Fig. XI illustrates an adjustment in one of the bands, which may be considered either as a chin band or a neck band in accordance with the position on the head of the wearer which the appliance is caused to assume. In Fig. XI as specifically shown, a foundation band 22 has extended ends 23 and 24 which for purposes of illustration can be taken as conjointly forming a chin band. At an intermediate point the ends 23 and 2 3 are interconnected for length adjustment of the strap, or band, by a slip-buckle 25.

It will be noted that in the mechanical structure of my hair-restraining appliance the general appearance is neat and symmetrical. Also most of the fastening means by which the adjustments are made are so placed that they are not visible when the appliance is worn and can be of such sort, as shown and described, that they do not detract from the neat and attractive appearance of the appliance. It is to be understood that the adjustability of the bands of which the hair-restraining appliance is composed provide for such fitting to the head of a wearer that dislodgement is not to be expected under normal conditions. The provision of mechanical means for positively engaging the appliance to the head of a wearer is, however, desirable in meeting conditions which are particularly exacting, if the wearer wishes to increase the feeling of security in the position of the hair-restraining appliance, if an accurate fitting to the size of the head or arrangement of the hair is not made or if additional ornamentation is desired.

In addition to the uses of my hair-restraining appliance which have been noted above, there is another and very important use. In swimming the hair tends to escape from and to be disarranged under a bathing cap, if one be worn. If no cap be worn, the hair tends to separate when wet into unsightly strings. In either case my hair-restraining appliance is useful in preserving a desired arrangement of the hair.

Having described one embodiment of my invention together with certain modifications thereof, I wish it to be understood that various changes in shape, arrangement and in the specific elements of the disclosed structure may be made without departing from the principle of my invention and that my invention is therefore to be restricted only by the limitations comprised in the statement of the appended claims.

This is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 213,375, filed March 1, 1951.

I claim as my invention:

1. An open hair-restraining appliance comprising a brow or foundation band, a neck band attached at its ends to said foundation band, said bands being independently adjustable in length, a head band attached at its ends to said foundation band and adjustable in its position therealong, means associated with the said head band at the inner side thereof in at least one region of its attachment to the said foundation band providing adjustment in the effective length of the said head band, and a fitting on one of said bands effective positively to engage the said appliance to at least one ear of a wearer.

2. An open hair-restraining appliance com prising a brow or foundation band, a neck band attached at its ends to said foundation band, a head band attached at its ends to said founda tion band and adjustable in its position therealong, means associated with the said head band at the inner side thereof in at least one region of its attachment to the said foundation band providing adjustment in the effective length of the said head band, and a fitting adjustable along said foundation band effective positively to engage the said appliance to at least one ear of a wearer.

3. An open hair-restraining appliance com-- prising a brow or foundation band having a series of sockets therealong, a neck band attached at its ends to said foundation band, said neck and foundation bands being each adjustable in length independently of the other said band, a plurality of head bands attachable in adjusted position along said foundation band by engagement with selected sockets thereof and independently adjustable in length by the length of the portion thereof extended through said sockets, and a i fitting adjustable along the said foundation band effective positively to engage the said appliance to an ear of a wearer.

4. An open hair-restraining appliance comprising a brow or foundation band having a series of sockets therealong, a head band attachable in adjustable position along said foundation band by looping it through selected sockets of the said foundation band and adjustable in length by the length of the portion thereof extended through said sockets, cooperative fastening members in hidden position on the inner surface of said head band to secure the loop of the head band engaging it to at least one socket, and an ornamental fitting on said foundation band effective positively to engage the said appliance t an ear of a wearer.

MARGARET D. (N

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,438,141 Schmidt Dec. 5, 1922 1,535,309 Hillebrand Apr. 23, 1925 1,539,706 Wallman May 26, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,913 Austria Oct. 10, 1904 223,107 Great Britain May 7, 1925 364,546 Germany Nov. 28, 1922 

